American voters remain deeply divided about President Barack Obama's job performance, giving
him a 45 - 46 percent job approval, but disapproval of both Democrats and Republicans in
Congress tops 2-1. This could explain why only 2 percent trust government to do what is right
almost all of the time, and 16 percent trust government to do right most of the time, according to
a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

While President Obama's ratings on the economy and job creation remain low, voters
strongly support the steps he has proposed to put Americans back to work, the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds.

American voters still disapprove 54 - 35 percent of Obama's health care reform plan, but
they say 52 - 44 percent they want Congress and the President to keep trying on health care
reform rather than giving up and moving on to other matters.

"The country remains basically split down the middle about President Barack Obama's
performance. The good news for the White House is that his approval rating has stabilized in the
mid 40s. That's nothing to write home about, but he has stopped dropping," said Peter Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"American voters now give both parties equally bad grades, disapproving 63 - 28 percent
of Congressional Democrats and disapproving 61 - 28 percent of Republicans. That's why it
should be no surprise that only 2 percent of voters, including 1 percent of Republicans and 1
percent of independents, think the government does what's right almost all the time."

Another 16 percent, including 10 percent of Republicans, 12 percent of independents and
29 percent of Democrats, think government does right most of the time; 54 percent believe it
does so only some of the time and 27 percent say government does what's right hardly ever.

Three percent of women and 7 percent of blacks say government does the right thing
almost all the time, compared to 1 percent of men and whites.

In addition, 67 percent of voters blame both Democrats and Republicans equally for the
gridlock in Washington, with 17 percent blaming the GOP and 12 percent the Democrats. On
another question, 46 percent say Democrats are not considering Republican views when pushing
legislation while 37 percent say the GOP is misusing the filibuster to block legislation.

"From the voters' point of view it is a plague on both their houses," said Brown, "but
independents, who are a key to the November elections, do give congressional Democrats lower
grades than congressional Republicans."

Although only 37 percent rate the President's efforts to reduce the budget deficit as
excellent or good, 71 percent saying reducing unemployment is more important. And voters
favor 72 - 22 percent Obama's $100 billion dollar package of tax cuts for small business and
government spending to increase employment.

They back additional fees on the nation's big banks 57 - 35 percent, but oppose 49 - 46
percent ending tax cuts for couples earning over $250,000 annually. And there is overwhelming
support, 78 - 19 percent, for Obama's proposal to freeze federal spending for the next three years
with exceptions for defense and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

"When it comes to domestic priorities, unemployment is number one, two and three in the
eyes of the American people," said Brown. "Despite Obama's big negatives, 41 - 54 percent
approval on the economy and 37 - 56 percent on creating jobs, voters strongly support his
proposals to improve the situation."

From February 2 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,617 registered voters nationwide
with a margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?

14. Which comes closer to your point of view: Democrats in Congress are not
considering Republican points of view in pushing legislation or Repubilcans
in Congress are misusing the filibuster to block legislation?

26. Some say that using federal dollars to create jobs will lead to a lower
deficit because job holders pay taxes. Others say that using federal dollars
to create jobs is wasteful spending that will lead to a larger deficit. Which
comes closer to your own view?

27. Some say taxes on the wealthy should be increased to raise money to reduce
the deficit. Others say that raising taxes on the wealthy will backfire because
they won't have the money to invest to create jobs. Which comes closer to your
own view?

28. President Obama has dedicated one hundred billion dollars to fund a jobs
bill that would include tax cuts for small businesses, as well as investments
in infrastructure and clean energy. Do you support or oppose this proposal?